Engine.



F. G. FREESE.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1908.

929,575. Patented July 27, 1909.

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P. G. FREES-E.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6,-1908.

Patented July 27, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

477019/YEZ unirsn erases PATENT ornioa.

FRANK Gr. FREES E, OF PHTLADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENGINE.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. FREEsn, a citizen of the United States, residing inthe city of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an engine having a cylinder and piston each provided with several sections, preferably of progressively increasing size, in combination with valve mechanism, whereby the engine may be run as a single expansion, plural expansion, or compound engine, with ready change from one to the other or to reverse without stopping.

The construction is simple and compact; having very few parts, the working parts inclosed, low friction, little wear, low cost of operation and uniform action, there being no dead center position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an engine embodying my improvements; F 2 is a transverse sectional View of the same; Figf 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the valve mechanism with the ports closed; Fig. 4 represents diagrammatically the position of the valve mechanism for single expansion; Fig. 5 represents diagrammatically the position of the valve mechanism for a double compound action; and Fig. 6 represents diagrammatically the position ofthe valve mechanism for quadruple expansion.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the engine comprises the cylinder 1 having the detachable heads 2 and 3 held in position by screws 4 and 5, the heads having the respective cylindrical hubs 6 and 7 which fit within the corresponding ends of the cylinder. The cylinder is divided into sections 3, 9, 10 and 11 of successively increasing diameters and sizes. These sections are separated by the diaphragms 12, 13 and 14 which telescope within the respective sections 9, 10 and 11 and fit against the adjacent ends of the respective sections 8, 9, and 10.

A piston 15, having the spindle 1G journaled in the packed bearing 17 of the head 2 and the hub 18 journaled in the socket or step bearing 19 of the head 3, is provided with the cylindrical sections 20, 21, 22 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 6, 1908.

Patented July 27, 1909.

Serial No. 431,110.

23 of successively increasing diameters. The piston sections revolve in the respective cylinder sections or chambers 8, 9, l0 and 11; the sections 20, 21 and 22 revolving in corresponding bearings in the partitions 12, 13 and 14 and the sections 21, 22 and 23 abutting against the diaphragms 12, 13 and 14 to hold them in place. The piston sections are provided respectively with the diametrically arranged reciprocating blades 24, 25, 26, and 27 which project so as to divide the respective cylinder sections, against the walls of which they bear, the blades being thrown outwardly by springs as 28 and by centrifugal force on revolving the piston.

A cylindrical valve chamber 30 extends parallel and is fixed to the cylinder 1, the chamber 30 being connected with each of the chambers 8, 9, 10 and 11 by two ports 31,

32, 33 and 34. The valve chamber has heads valve; this channel having a length permitting it to simultaneously communicate with a full set of the two sets of ports 31, 32, 33 and 34 and off sets 43 and 43 which permit it to be brought into direct communication with ports 31 and 33 when it is out of communication with ports 32 and 34. The valve is provided, on opposite sides of the central channel 43, with the similarly formed exterior channels 44, e'achof which can be brought into registration with the adjacent port 31 and the oppositely placed port 32; also with the similarly formed exterior channels 45, each of which can be brought into registration with the adjacent port 32 and the oppositely placed port 33, and also with the similarly formed exterior channels 46, each of which can be brought into registration with the adjacent port 33 and the oppositely disposed port 34. Similarly a position, the pawl engages the notch a and all of the ports 31, 32, 33 and 34 are closed,

and 45, connect the exterior of the valve with its interior passage and each is adapted to be brought into registration with the adjacent port-32. Similarly located ports 49, each disposed between corresponding channels 45 and 4G, connect the exteriorof .the valve with its interior passage. and each .is placed so thatit canbe brought into communication with the adjacent port 33. Similarly placed ports 50, lying on opposite sides of the channels 46, connect the exterior of the valve with its interior passage and each may be brought, by revolving the valve, into communication with the adjacent port 34.

,A handle 51 is fixed on the end of the valve spindle and has connected therewith bythe fulcrum 52 a lever or pawl 53 having a toe 54 adapted for engaging notches a, b, 0 and (Z in a rack and dial 55 which is fixed to the end of the cylinder 30, the pawl being thrown into engagement by a spring 56 and disengaged by pressing lts top toward the handle. lVhen thehandle is in the vertlcal as illustrated in Fig. 3. hen the handle .is turned to the right and set at Z) the channel 43 registerswith. allot aset of the ports 31, 32, 33 and.34 and the other set of these ports registers with the respective ports 47, 148,49 and 50,.as illustrated in Fig.4, so that fluid is admitted directly to all of the chambers S, 9,, 10 and; 11 and the operation is single expansion. When the handle is turned to the right and set at 0 the channel 43 registers with ports 31 and 33 of the first set, the port 31 of the second set is connected by a channel 44 with the port 32 of the first set, the port 33 of the second set is connected by, the channel 46 with the port 34 of the first set, the port-32 of the second set' registers with a port48, and the port 34 of the secondset registers witlra port 50,. as illustrated in Fig. 5,-so that fluid will be admitted simultaneously to the chambers S and 10 and will'flow from these chambers into the respectivechambers 9 and 11, the operation being double expansion-in character. .lVhen the handle 1s turned to the rlght and set at (Z, the channel 43 reglsters wltha single port ,31 through which fluid is admitted to the chambera8; thence it is discharged by the opposite port 31, the corresponding channel 44and the port=32 of the first set into .the chamber 9; thence by the second port 32, the correspondingchannel.45 and the, port 7 33 of -thefirst setinto the chamber 10 thence by the second port 33, the corresponding Fig. (i, the operation being quadruple expansion. The same operations in-the reverse direction can be eii'ected by turning the valve lever from thewertical to the left.

any; particular number of sections but that .the number wlth the valve mechanism therefore may be extended or reduced as rendered desirable by the work to be performed.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An engine having a cylinder with several compartments, a piston having members operating in the respective compartments, ports for each of said compartments, and a single cylindrical valve having means for controlling said ports and efiecting a single expansion, plural expansion and compound action.

2. An engine having a cylinder with several compartments of vdifferent diameters, a piston having members operating in the respective compartments, ports for the respective compartments, anda'cylindrical valve constructed and coacting with said ports so that said engine can be operated as a single expansion, plural expansion or compound engine.

3.v An engine having a cylinder with several compartments of different diameters, partitions telescoping within compartments of larger diameters to close adjacent ends of compartments of smaller diameters, a piston having cylindrical sections revoluble in said partitions and the compartments closed thereby, reciprocating blades carried by said sections and acting in said compartments, a cylindrical valve chamber, ports connecting each compartment with said valve chamber, and a rotary valve in said chamber for con trolling said ports.

4. An engine having a plurality of compartments of successively increasing size, a piston having reciprocating blades rotating in the respective compartments, a cylindrical valve chamber, ports connecting each compartment with said valve chamber, a valve revoluble in said chamber, a lever for revolving said valve, a dial for indicating the .movements of said valve, and passages formed in said valve 111 such relation to said dial and compartment ports that said engine can be operated in either dlrectlon as a S111- gle expansion, plural expanslon or compoun d GHglIHL 5. An engine having a cylinder with several compartments of different diameters,

. partitions telescoping within compartments of larger diameters to close adjacent ends of compartments of smaller diameters, a piston having cylindrical sections of difierent di- In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my ameters revoluble in said partitions and the name this fourth day of May, A. D. 1908, in compartments closed thereby the respective the presence of the subscribing Witnesses. 1G

partitions being held in position by plston FRANK GLFREESE. sections adjacent to those revoluble therein, Witnesses: and reciprocating blades carried by said sec- ROBERT J AMES EARLEY,

tions and acting in said compartments. Jos. Q. DENNY, Jr. 

